St Thomas Aquinas 'versed' in schooling

'An Afternoon of Poetry' used for education fund

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

For the last six years, on the final Sunday in April or the first Sunday in May, the faithful have gathered at the St Thomas Aquinas Centre in Papine, St Andrew, for 'An Afternoon of Poetry'. The afternoon has not solely been for the sheer pleasure of verse, but to ensure that a number of students, mainly at the primary and secondary levels, are 'versed' in their academic pursuits.

Georgia Pinnock, who chairs the organisation's Education Fund Committee, said it was the committee's major fund-raiser and helps children in the church's community as well as the wider community to attend school.

This year's staging was held on Sunday, May 2, with Professor Mervyn Morris as special guest poet. Pinnock said some of the regular readers over the years have gone on to publish poetry books, among them Suzzette Shaw-Reid, Dr Jean Lee, Angella Williams and Dawn McGregor-Bromfield. Other regular contributors to the programme are Dr Carmenita Jones and Danielle Jadusingh, the latter absent recently due to study commitments.

weak male presence

"Last year, we had six young men and they were excellent. Unfortunately, only two turned up this year, so we did not have the male presence as strong as we would like," she said. "I think people who come really enjoy it. It is a fun time."

Pinnock confessed, though, "I had my doubts at first." So the poetry reading was McGregor-Bromfield's idea, the afternoon replacing book and bake sales.

Pinnock estimated an average of 80 students being assisted with fees and books annually since the readings began, about 90 benefitting last year. She said most of the students come from nearby Mona Commons and there is an application and interview procedure at which the students have to bring in their report cards for the Summer Term. The assistance is given at the beginning of the school year following the poetry reading.

"We use our discretion," Pinnock said. Preference is given to those who need assistance and have done well in school. All the proceeds from the poetry sessions go to the education fund, but the students do not get cash. Instead, they are provided with book vouchers and for fees, a cheque is made out to the school.

awardees from various levels

There were 46 secondary-level students, 41 primary and three basic school children in the most recent batch of awardees. Pinnock said in the earlier years of the programme, more pre-primary level students were assisted, but "we had to stop as it was very expensive". St Thomas Aquinas also used to assist with lunch, which was prepared for students to collect at the centre, but "the logistics of it proved too much".

Subsequent to the awards, there is a follow-up process, where the students' schoolwork is reviewed.

Part of the fun of the poetry afternoon comes in two of the three programme breaks, where there are puzzles and other audience-engaging activities. And there may be adjustments to the programme, as the committee makes revisions to avoid complacency.

"We are thinking of putting in a musical segment. We have not made a firm decision. We are just thinking of what we can do," Pinnock said.